Legislative Assembly of Costa Rica

Legislative Assembly Asamblea Legislativa de la Republica de Costa Rica
Type
Type	Unicameral
Leadership
President	Victor Emilio Granados Calvo
Structure
Seats	57
Political groups	Government (30)      PLN (24)      PASE (4)      PRC (1)      PRN (1) Opposition Parties      PAC (11)      PML (9)      PUSC (5)      PFA (1)
Elections
Last election	7 February, 2010
Meeting place
San Jose, Costa Rica
Website
http://www.asamblea.go.cr/

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The Legislative Assembly (Spanish: Asamblea Legislativa) is the unicameral legislative branch of the government of Costa Rica. The national congress building is located in the city capital, San José, specifically in El Carmen District in San José Canton.

Composition

The Legislative Assembly is composed of 57 deputies (diputados), who are elected by direct, universal, popular vote on a proportional representation basis, by provinces, for four-year terms. A 1949 constitutional amendment prevents deputies from serving for two successive terms; however, a deputy may run again for an Assembly seat after sitting out a term.

2010 legislative election

Elections were last held on February 2010. The current composition of the National Assembly is as follows:

• National Liberation Party (PLN): 46.91%, 24 seats
• Citizens' Action Party (PAC): 25.06%, 12 seats
• Libertarian Movement Party (PML): 20.92%, 9 seats
• Social Christian Unity Party (PUSC): 3.88%, 6 seats
• Accessibility without Exclusion Party (PASE): 4 seats
• Costa Rican Renovation Party (PRC): 1 seat
• Broad Front (FA) : 1 seat

Premises

The Assembly meets in the Edificio Central ("Central Building") located in the city centre of San José. Work began on this building in 1937, with the plan of having it serve as the new presidential palace. Since much of the building materials were imported from Germany and Czechoslovakia, however, the onset of the Second World War put a halt to the project. Work did not recommence until 1957, but by 1958 the legislature was installed and operating in its new premises.

Central American Parliament

Costa Rica is the only Spanish-speaking Central American country not to return deputies to the supranational Central American Parliament.

See also

• Politics of Costa Rica
• List of legislatures by country

External links

• Asamblea Legislativa de la República de Costa Rica